Inversely proportional (also called indirectly proportional ) means that one variable (x, y or I, R or E, R etc.) goes up while the other goes down in opposite directions. For example; The volume (variable y) of a gas at constant pressure is inversely proportional to gas pressure (variable x), thus this means that as pressure increases, the volume of the gas will decrease. Another example; If the fixed voltage (variable E) increases through a conductor between two points it is indirectly proportional to the resistance (variable R) across the two points because the Resistance decreases.